Hose connector for vacuum cleaners



April 27, 1954 c, LAMPE 2,676,669

HOSE CONNECTOR FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Dec. 31. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORI fiaier 6. (4MP!- M247 T ORNEX ApriI 27, 1954 R. c. LAMPE .HOSE CONNECTOR FOR VACUUM CLEANERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1952 INVENTOR fies-7 63 (Am s.

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April 27, 1954 Q LAMPE 2,676,669

HOSE CONNECTQR FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Dec. 51. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 61 ATTORNEY Patente p 7, 54

UNITED STATES PATENT o F2i676,669 HOSE CONNECTORFOR VACUUM CLEANERS Robert C. :L'ampe, S'tamfo'rd, Conn, assign'o'r to Electrolux Corporation, a corporationfo'f Delaware Application December 31, 1952, Serial 1N0. 328,949

(Cl. lim -37) :9 Claims.

1 This application is a continuation-in-part 'of copending application Serial No. 140,394, {filed jointly by Gustaf Einar Lofgren, John T. Ferraris and myself on January 25, 1950, now Patent No. 2,641,330 dated June 9, 1953, and relates back thereto for all common subject matter.

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuum cleaners of the enclosed bag type.

In cleaners of this type it has been common practice to provide a removable closure for the dust bag compartment and to connect the suction hose to an inlet conduit rigidly carried by and extending through the closure. With such an arrangement, if it were desired to pivotally connect the closure to the casing of the vacuum cleaner, and this is essential in the case of a cleaner having means for automatically opening the closure when the bag should be replaced, the connection of the hose to the closure would seriously interfere with the pivotal movement of the former.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement whereby a closure may be pivo'tally connected to the "casing and pivoted between closed and open positions without any substantial interference or resistance from the hose.

In accordance with my invention, the hose is not connected directly to the closure itself, but to a separate hose connector member which'carries the inlet conduit. and which is :pivoted "on the closure. I also provideparallel motion link"- age, of which the closure constitutes" one link, for maintaining the hose connector member and the inlet conduit carried thereby parallel to themselves. The closure is preferably pivoted to the casing about a substantially horizontal axis disposed beneath the opening to the dust bag compartment, and hence pivots downwardly when opened, carrying the hose connector with it. In order that the latter, which moves parallel to itself, shall not extend when the closure is opened above the bottom of the opening to the bag compartmenuthe bottom of this opening must be disposed above the floor or other surface supportingthe cleaner a distance atleast as great as the vertical: extent of the hose, connector, and it is an additional feature: of myinvention that the hose connectormay, have: a

Old "Greenwich, 'COfiliL,

2 vertical extent which is substantially less than that of the opening, thereby making it possible to have the-opening much closer to the floor than would be the case if the entire closure member were mounted for parallel motion.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing 'a vacuum cleaner embodying my. invention;

Fig. 2 is a viewsiinila'r to Fig. 1 showing a portion of the vacuum cleaner and with certain parts in a different position;

Fig. *3 is a front view of the vacuum, cleaner shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. *4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of 3.

Referring to the drawings reference character I'll designatesa hollow casing provided with a pair of runners l2 fo'r supporting it in a horizontal position on a horizontal surface. The lefthand end of casing 10, as viewed in the figures, encloses a dust receptacle compartment l4 having an opening I6 disposed in a vertical plane. A dust receptacle I8 is adapted to be insertedinto compartment [4 through the opening 16. The -receptacle includes a bag portion 20 made of air p'ervious material, such as porous paper, one end of which is secured to a relatively rigid disc member 22, preferably made of cardboard. -A preferably circular opening 24 is formed in the disc member and in the. adjacent end of the bag portion. This opening may be covered by a sheet of elastic material 26 having an opening 28 therethrough of normally reduced size, but which may be enlarged by stretching of the elastic material, as hereinafter described, so as to approximate the size of the opening 2 The size and configuration of the disc 22 is such that it may seat in airtight relationship against a gasket 30 se cured in the opening I 6.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a perforated plate 32 locatedwithin the; compartment l4 adjacent to the opening Hi. This plate is movable for the Purpose of, ejecting the: dust receptacle it from the compartment l4 and-in Fig. 2 is shown a position to which it has moved for the purpose of ejecting the receptacle. This plate 32 may be moved rearwardly into the compartment and retained therein in order that the dust receptacle may be inserted. However, the ejection mechanism of which the plate 32 forms a component, is no part of the present invention and consequently is not further illustrated herein. For a complete description of this mechanism reference may be had to the specification of parent application Serial No. 140,394, now Patent No. 2,641,330.

Below the opening IS the casing of the cleaner is formed with a wall 34 forwardly from which projects a pair of members 35. Pivotally mounted on these members about a horizontal axis 33 is a structure designated generally by reference character All. This structure serves as a partial closure for the opening and may be pivoted from the closed position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 to the open position shown in Fig. 2. This structure includes a lower portion 4?. which extends substantially the entire width of the casing, as is seen from Figs. 1 and 3, and two spaced side portions M and as which extend upwardly therefrom. A coil spring 48 disposed about the axis 38 tends to pivot the structure 40 to open position, while a latch member re tains the structure in closed position, as shown in Fig. '5. The latch member is pivoted to the inner side of wall 34 at 52 and may be released manually by means of a button 55 secured to the upper end of a rod 55 which is carried by one of the side portions 46.

A member 58 is pivotally mounted in the space between the side portions 44 and 46 about a pivot 60. The lower portion of member 58 is com prised of resilient material Bl. The member 58 carries a hose connector 62 to which may be attached a flexible suction hose 64 and which communicates with an inlet conduit 66 which extends inwardly from the member 58. A gasket 6? surrounding conduit is carried by member A link 68 is pivotally connected at 10 to one of the members 36, and is pivotally connected at 12 to the member 58. The distance between the pivot points 38 and 50 on the one hand and the pivot points 10 and 12 on the other hand. are equal and consequently the closure member 40 and the link 68 together constitute parallel motion mechanism which assures that the member 58 and the inlet conduit 55 carried thereby and the hose 54 connected thereto will remain parallel to themselves as the structure 49 moves between open and closed positions. portion 42 of the structure 40 is hollow so that it may receive the inlet conduit 66 when the structure 46] is moved to the open position, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the vertical extent of the opening [6 is greater than the vertical distance from the bottom of the opening l6 to supporting surface on which the runners l2 rest. Although the vertical extent of the structure All is somewhat greater than that of the opening It, the vertical extent of the member 53 is less than that of the opening, and consequently when the structure All is pivoted to the open position as shown in Fig. 2, in which position the bottom of the member 58 rests on the supporting surface, the entire assembly consisting of the structure 413 and the member 58 is below the lower edge of the opening it. If the entire structure 40 were mounted for parallel motion, the bottom of the opening [6 would have to be The lower disposed above the floor a distance at least as great as the vertical extent of the structure 49 in order that the top of this structure, when in open position, would be below the bottom of the opening.

The above described device operates as follows:

Starting with the structure it in open position, the plate 32 may be pushed back into the compartment l4 and the dust receptacle 18 inserted into the compartment and the disc member 22 seated against the gasket 36. Thereafter, the structure it] is pivoted to closed position, and during this pivotal movement the member 58 travels in an arcuate path, but the inlet conduit 66 remains parallel to itself. When the end of this conduit strikes the elastic sheet material 2% it stretches the opening 28 until the conduit enters the opening, the elastic material 25 then surrounding the conduit as shown in Fig. 4. The gasket tl carried by the member 58 around the inlet conduit 55 presses against the central portion of the disc 22 so to securely retain the latter in position against the gasket Sil. Engagement of the latch 59 retains the structure 4D in this closed position. Consequently, dirt-ladened air entering through the hose 5% may pass through the inlet conduit 56 into the interior of the dust receptacle 1%, where the dust is retained while the air may pass through the porous bag portion 2t.

When it is desired to remove the dust receptacle, depression of the button E l releases the latch 56, thus enabling the spring it to pivot the structure Ml to the open position shown in Fig. 2, the member 58 again moving parallel to itself until the resilient lower part El thereof strikes the floor or other supporting surface, thus arresting further movement of the struc ture 40. Inasmuch as the member 58 remains parallel to itself in all positions, the structure it may be opened without bending the hose M but by merely sliding the latter forward a short distance. It has been determined that such movement or the hose oifers but little resistance to the opening to the structure es, thus permitting the use of a relatively light spring 48 while at the same time assuring complete opening of the structure.

As previously stated, when the structure it is in open position both it and the member 58 are disposed below the lower edge of the opening l5 and consequently do not interfere with the removal of the dust receptacle I8.

While I have shown one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, this has been done for illustration only and is not to be considered as limiting the scope of my invention, which is to be determined from the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a dust receptacle compartment having an opening, a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said compartment through said opening, structure pivotally connected to said casing and pivotal to a position in front of said opening, a member pivotally mounted on said structure, hose coupling means carried by said member, and a link pivotally connected to said casing and said member, said structure and said link comprising parallel motion mechanism for maintaining said member parallel to itself as it is moved towards and away from said opening by the pivotal move ment of said structure.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a 6 @1121 ta into said in s id. :stmeture is ows to a a k piv al y sonnect d to sa it saids mctu e an sa s 1=le1-=mt q mec a s ,for said member tend said inlet [conduit h mselves-ast eya e me ed t a ,and ay n ai allyiconnectedto isaidcasi-ng and towsaid-meinber', dust geceptacle -50 said structure and saiddink comprising parallel dis er ed "in motion mechanism for maintaining said member; par l e to itself as s inbr d tow samawaf .7 i from said opening by the pivotal movement of al y onnected to :said casing about a said structure. substantially horizontal axi disposed beneath 3. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a said opening, said structure having an extent dust receptacle compartment having an opening normal to said axis at least as great as the verdisposed in a substantially vertical plane, means tical extent of said openi g nd bein p vo al to for supporting said casing on a surface with the a position in front of said opening, a member bottom of said opening spaced above said surface, pivotally mounted on said structure, hose coua dust receptacle insertable into and removable Pling means Carried y Said member, and a link from said compartment through said opening, pivotally connected to said casing and said memstructure pivotally connected to said casing about ber, said structure and said link comprising para substantially horizontal axis disposed beneath allel motion mechanism for maintaining Sa d said opening, said structure being pivotal t a member parallel to itself as it is moved towards position in front of said opening, a member pivotand away from said Ope g y e pivotal V ally mounted on said structure, hose coupling ment of said structure, the vertical extent of said means carried by said member, and a link pivotmember being substantially less than said vertical ally connected to said casing and to said member, extent of said opening.

said structure and said link comprising parallel 7. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a motion mechanism for maintaining said member dust receptacle compartment having an opening parallel to itself as it is moved towards and away disposed in a substantially vertical plane, means from said opening by the pivotal movementffof fors'upporting said casing on a surface with the said structure, said member extending below said bottom of said opening spaced above said surface structure when the latter is pivoted downwardly a distance less than the vertical extent of said towards said surface so that said member 0611- p a dust receptacle insertable into and tacts said surface and limits pivotal movement removable from said compartment through said Of the structure. opening, structure pivotally connected to said cas- 4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing definingi a 40 ing about a substantially horizontal axis disposed dust receptacle compartment having an opening beneath said opening, said structure having an disposed in a substantially vertical plane, means extent normal to said axis at least as great as for supporting said casing on a surface with ,the said vertical extent of said opening and being bottom of said opening spaced above said surpivotal to a position in front of said opening, a face, a dust receptacle insertable into and rempvmember pivotally mounted on said structure, hose able from said compartment through said opencoupling means carried by said member, and a ing, structure pivotally connected to said casing link pivotally connected to said casing and said about a substantially horizontal axis disposed member, said structure and said link comprising beneath said opening, said structure being pivotal parallel motion mechanism for maintaining said to a position in front of said opening, a member member parallel to itself as it is moved towards pivotally mounted on said structure, said member and away from said opening by the pivotal movehaving a lower portion comprised of relatively ment of said structure, the vertical extent of said soft resilient material, hose coupling means carmember being no greater than the distance beried by said member, and a link pivotally oontween the bottom of said opening and said surnected to said casing and to said member, said face.

structure and said link comprising parallel motion 8. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a mechanism for maintaining said member parallel dust receptacle compartment having an opening to itself as it is moved. towards and away from disposed in a substantially vertical plane, a dust said opening by pivotal'movementof said strucreceptacle insertable into and removable from ture, said lower portion of said member extend- 0 said compartment through said opening, strucing belowfsaid structure when the latter is pivoted ture pivotally connected to said casing about a downwardly towards said surface so that said substantially horizontal axis disposed beneath resilient material contacts said surface and limits said opening, said structure comprising a lower downward pivotal movement of the structurelflf portion having a lateral extent substantially equal 5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a to the width of said opening and two spaced side dust receptacle compartment having an opening, portions extending upwardly from said lower pora dust receptacle insertable into and removable tion, a member pivotally mounted between said from said compartment through said opening. side portions, hose coupling means carried by said receptacle including a relatively stiff end saidmember, and a link pivotally connected to portion formed with an inlet aperture, structure 7 said casing and to said member, said structure pivotally connected to said casing and pivotal to and said link comprising parallel motion mecha position in front of said opening, a member anism for maintaining said member parallel to pivotally mounted on said structure, hoseouitself as it is moved towards and away from said pling means carried by said member, an ignlet opening by the pivotal movement of said strucconduit carried by said member and extending ture.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing defining a dust 5 receptacle compartment having an opening disposed in a substantially vertical plane, a dust receptacle insertable into and removable from said compartment through said opening, structure pivotally connected to said casing about a substantially horizontal axis disposed beneath said opening, said structure comprising a lower hollow portion having a lateral extent substantially equal to the width of said opening and two spaced side portions extending upwardly from said lower portion, a member pivotally mounted between said side portions, hose coupling means carried by said member, an inlet conduit carried by said member and extending inwardly therefrom, and

'a link pivotally connected to said casing and said member, said structure and said link comprising parallel motion mechanism for maintaining said member and said inlet conduit parallel to themselves as they are moved towards and away from said opening by the pivotal movement of said structure, said inlet conduit being received within said lower hollow portion when said structure is pivoted away from said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

